Breaking New Ground at Rogers Centre “The Whole Process of Breaking and Removing That Extra Concrete Took Less Than an Hour with the EC220E
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A CUSTOMER’S SUCCESS STORY Smart works. Breaking new ground at rogers centre “The whole process of breaking and removing that extra concrete took less than an hour with the EC220E. We kept right on schedule.” Vito Nardi, Director, Verdi Restoration Ltd. Few people know concrete as well as Vito APRIL 2016 Nardi. As director of Verdi > INSIDE Restoration Ltd. — a CONCRETE< division of Verdi Alliance ON-SITE specializing in concrete PG.32 restoration work — Nardi and his team have overseen HARD-COR some of the largest, most HEALTH & high-profile concrete SAFETY construction projects in PG.28 and around Toronto. GAS SAW: From heavy civil to foundations and BIGGER sealing — if concrete is involved, they ISN’T ALWAYS pursue and complete the job with a level BETTER of precision few others can achieve. PG.35 “We specialize in bridge and structural restoration, as well as large-scale concrete forming projects for high-rise buildings, which MAJOR is how I’ve spent the bulk of my career,” says Nardi. “There’s no room for error when you’re working on the types of jobs we do.” LEAGUE That level of precision is one of the reasons why the maintenance staff at Rogers Centre — Site Prep home of the Toronto Blue Jays — has made TORONTO BLUE JAYS Nardi their professional of choice for many of Verdi Alliance relies on expertise to GET DIRT INFIELD PG 22 the stadium’s concrete projects over the years. transform Toronto Blue Jays’ infield. Rogers Centre covers nearly 13 acres of ground, and can seat 50,000 fans under the feature for which the complex is most www.on-sitemag.com PM #40065710 known — the world’s first fully retractable roof. Volvo Construction Equipment volvoce.com A CUSTOMER’S SUCCESS STORY Smart works. The construction of the dome was “On paper, this just sounds like a simple hydraulic breaker and get the job done an architectural feat — and marked excavation job — break up the concrete on time,” says Marinos. “I steered him the beginning of Nardi’s relationship and haul it out,” says Nardi. “But I’ve worked toward a Volvo EC220E, because it was with the Rogers Centre team. long enough to know that every job has the best fit for the job, in my opinion.” its challenges and surprises, no matter “I started working with [Rogers Centre] in how straightforward it may seem. You want This is not an uncommon recommendation 2007, when we bid on and won a job to to come prepared with the right machine from Marinos. After 30 years’ experience waterproof the concrete rails around the roof of for the job at a cost that is predictable.” in the rental business, he knows the retractable dome. We were able to come in what works and what doesn’t. under bid. Ever since, we’ve been growing our Nardi didn’t assume he was a shoe-in for the relationship with them. In our line of business, job simply based on history, either. So, he “I’ve experienced every brand of machine and that kind of partnership means everything.” moved forward as he would with any job — every problem an excavator can have. I didn’t putting together a thoughtful, competitive make the recommendation for the Volvo lightly Today, the maintenance staff at Rogers bid, along with a precise plan of attack. – I made it because over the years our Volvo Centre trusts Nardi and Verdi Restoration dealer, Strongco, has given us the support with the majority of their concrete forming 20 TONS OF PRECISION we need so that I can do the same for my and sealing projects. When the time customers. That, partnered with the excavator’s came for another big job — they once Part of outlining that plan included capabilities made it an easy recommendation.” again called Nardi to put in a bid. matching the right machines to the job. For that, Nardi turned to a long- Ultimately, Marinos’ recommendation Up until the 2016 season, the Blue Jays had time, trusted colleague — Spiro Marinos, proved to be a good one. Nardi and his been the only team in the league to play on an partner at Rapid Equipment Rentals. crew received the good news that they infield with artificial turf. In December 2015, had been awarded the bid. But the real the team announced they would be joining the “I’ve known Spiro for a long time, and challenge still lay ahead — completing the rest of the league by converting to an all-dirt I trust that his recommendation on a job on an aggressive three-week timeline. infield. The work necessary to complete the machine will put me in the best position job would entail excavation of the cement floor to not only win the bid, but to get the job THE BREAKUP between the bases and throughout the infield done on time and budget,” says Nardi. Before the excavation began, Nardi and his — including a total area of approximately “After meeting and talking through project team used a total station theodolite monitor, or 1,115 square metres (12,000 square feet). details, we decided he’d need a machine TST, to measure the angles of the infield and When solicited to put together a bid, Nardi in the 20-ton class, powerful enough to assess the area. TST technology uses optical didn’t assume the task would be cut-and-dry. work with a 3,000 foot-pound Atlas Copco electronic readings to read slope distances Volvo Construction Equipment volvoce.com A CUSTOMER’S SUCCESS STORY Smart works. from the survey point, allowing for especially The crew later discovered that the we did it within the aggressive three- precise angles and distance measurements. surprisingly deep concrete under third week timeline. The EC220E was a huge base was originally put in place as a contributor to our productivity. It also shocked “TST technology gives us a thorough reading of landing pad to support the weight of a me — that thing accomplished the job on the underground structure, including the pipes crane during construction of the dome. less than one tank of fuel. We were using and utilities below the foundation,” Nardi says. it for 8-hour stretches at a time, almost “Taking this approach has the dual benefit These types of surprises can easily throw continuously, but never had to refuel the of saving us time and improving accuracy.” off a project schedule — especially if the 320-liter (85- gallon) tank on the machine.” crew isn’t equipped with the right machine After measuring the perimeter of the to get the job done. To Meitsch’s surprise, It’s these sound decisions that kept the infield, Nardi’s crew got to work breaking it turned out to be nearly a nonissue. Verdi crew on time and under budget, the concrete — which is where that past and ultimately, the Blue Jays’ new experience about expecting the unexpected “The whole process of breaking and removing infield on track for opening day. became reality. As his crew got to the third that extra concrete took less than an hour base pad, they unearthed a real surprise. with the EC220E. We kept right on schedule.” After Verdi Restoration completed the concrete removal work, a layer of pea-gravel base and Dietrich Meitsch, the excavator operator, Along with the Volvo EC220E, Nardi’s a layer of sand were laid down. On top of says his eyebrows certainly went up in that team used two skid steer loaders that, a clay-silt sand mix was added to help moment. “We kept digging and got through to haul concrete to the trucks. retain moisture after pregame watering. The to a meter-and-a-half (five feet) of concrete. increased depth and extra sand mix should “It was a challenge getting the trucks to the Up until that point, we were only dealing help make for a more comfortable experience location, dealing with the heavy traffic and with about a 30-centimeter (12-inch) depth for the athletes, who were accustomed to an the continual snow,” says Meitsch. “Overall, of concrete throughout, at the very most.” artificial turf on a bed of concrete. - April 2016 we hauled away 50 bins of concrete and Volvo Construction Equipment volvoce.com.